Piano-action



`(No Model.)

P. ST. AMANT.

PIANO ACTION.

No. 293,369. Patented Feb 12,1884.

N PETERS. Pmwmhognphcr. wnnnglm 0v C,

- UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

FRANCIS ST. AMANT, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

PIANO-ACTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 293,369, dated February12, 1884.

Y Application tiled November 22, 1882. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, FEANcIs ST. AMANT, of Boston, in the county oi'Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, a subject of Victoria, Queen ofEngland, &c., have invented a new and useful Improvement in Grand orSquare Piano- Forte Actions, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part of this specification, in explaining its nature, inwhich- Figure 1 represents in side elevation an action containing myinvention, showing the hammer at rest. Fig. 2 represents the position ofthe parts of the action immediately after the string has been struck.Figs. 8 and 4 represent in perspective details, hereinafter referred to.

This invention is an improvement upon that described in my LettersPatent No. 201,461, dated March 19, 1878. In said patent I describe apiano-action which is substantially all that is desired, except in oneparticular, and that is the connection between the hammerelevator andthe hammer stem or flange.4 The connection represented in the patentconsists of a projection on the hammer-elevator, covered with leather,felt, orother flexible or soft material, and a wooden surface or shoe onthe hammer, which rests on the projection on the hannner-elevator, andreceives the impulse from it. The projection, however, on account of thehard usage to which it is submitted, soon wears oft and causes a changein the relative position of the parts of the action to such an extentthat its efficiency is impaired, and it is not easily put in orderagain, it being necessary to renew some of the parts, and generally tooverhaul the entire action to put it in good working condition.Moreover, it requires considerable skill and expenditure of labor andmaterial to properly adjust the relative position of the hammer-elevatorto the hammer stem or fian ge in the first instance. I have ascertained,however, that by interposing an adjustable metallic connection betweenthe hammer stem or flange and the hammerelevator that these objectionsare entirely obviated, so that if from wear or any other reason theaction needs setting up it can be done by means of this adjustabledevice, and the action is also correspondingly improved.

wherebyit may be turned and the position of 6 5 the head in relation tothc hammer-elevator varied. Then the regulating` device is attached tothe hammer-stem or iiange, its shank projects through thehammer-spindle, as shown in Fig. 4., and a recess, ct, is cut across itsend for the reception of a screw-driver. The portion of the action withwhich the rounded head comes in contact should also be rounded, andpreferably should be of some flexible or soft material, like felt orleather. For the best effect it is perhaps desirable that the regulatingdevice be applied to the hannncr-elevator.

By making the upper surface of the device rounded or curved there isless friction between the parts, and by making it ot' metal greatdurability and strength in a light and compact form are obtained.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patentofthe 'United Statesj 1. The combination, in apiano-forte action, of the hammer-stem, the hammer-elevator B, and theinterposed adjustable regulating device O, made of metal, and having theregularly rounded or curved head c and the threaded shank c, allsubstantially as described.

2. The combination of a hammer-stem, the hammer-elevator B, and thecurved or rounded metallic bumper O, arranged between the hammer-stemand the hammer-elevator and fastened to one of them, and adapted tocontact with a rounded or curved leather or clothcovered bumper orprojection upon the other, all substantially as and for the purposesdescribed.

FRANOIS ST. AMANT.

IVitnesses:

F. F. RAYMOND, 2d, WILLARD C. Foce.

